THE VILLAGE VOICE

"Not one of flora's brilliant race A form more perfect can display; Art could not feign more simple grace Nor nature take a line away." From "On Planting a Tulip-Root" James Montgomery 1771-1854 TULIP TUNA ~ from Edible Flowers (Cathy Wilkinson Barash) ______________ 12 brightly colored 'pesticide free' tulips (reds, yellows, oranges or multicolored are preferable) 2 drained cans albacore tuna packed in water 4 chopped stalks of celery 1 tsp. curry powder 1/3 cup mayonnaise lettuce Remove petals from 8 of the tulips, cutting off 1/4 inch where petal was attached (this can be bitter). Julienne petals. In a large bowl, mix tuna, celery, curry and mayonnaise. Add julienned petals and gently toss. Cut off stems and remove the pistils and stamens from the 4 preserved tulips. Lay each tulip on a bed of lettuce. Gently spoon tuna mixture into the tulips. ( This is also good with your favorite chopped chicken salad recipe.) NOTE: Though 'pecticide-fr...

"The tulips that sparked Tulipomania were especially beautiful. Somewhat shorter than many of today's hybrids, they often had large flower heads with fabulous mottled or 'flamed' colors in two-tone mixes of red, oxblood, yellow, purple and white. Today we call these 'Rembrandt tulips,' as they are featured in so many famous paintings of the Dutch Masters." ~ For a brief escape into the beautiful history of art, lust, beauty and greed, please finish the above excerpt from Hortus Bulborum ~ Tulipmania ~ Of flowers and frenzy

"First flowers on the table; then food." ~ Danish saying ~ Rembrandt tulip ____________ Garden's Note : These modern day tulips, named after the famous Dutch painter, are reminiscent of the flamed-shaped streaked 'broken' color color tulips selling for astronomical sums when Rembrandt was a young man during the tulip mania craze that gripped 17 th century Holland. _________ RED or WHITE SANGRIA ~ Delightfully refreshing during or after a warm sunny day. Enjoy the infused fruit wedges as an after treat. _______ 1 bottle fruity red (Beaujolais or Zinfandel) or dry white wine 1 cup fresh orange juice juice of 1 fresh lemon juice of 1 fresh lime 2 Tbsp. Grand Marnier Liqueur or Calvados 3 Tbsp. Cointreau or Triple Sec 1 orange thinly sliced 1 lemon thinly sliced 1 lime thinly sliced Cherries, grapes, apple slices optional sparkling water or lemon-lime soda like 7-up mint sprig for garnish Pour wine large glass pitcher. Stir in orange, lemon and lime juice, Grand ...

MORE ' TULIPMANIA ' INFO (never enough) ... " You may be surprised to learn that many of the same elegant flowers that inspired ' Tulipmania ' in the 1600s, and appeared in paintings of the Dutch Masters at that time, are still available to plant in gardens today. " Read more about 'Time Traveling Tulips' ~ http://www.uvm.edu/pss/ppp/articles/tulips.html ~ Rembrandt tulip ____________________ BOURBON SALMON ~ Guests proclaiming they don't like salmon, love this! Give it a try ... (great for a buffet brunch or dinner ... Kentucky Derby, perhaps?) * For each 1 1/2 lb. of salmon fillets (skin or skinless) 1/4 cup packed brown sugar 3 Tbsp. Bourbon 2 Tbsp. soy sauce 2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil 3 Tbsp. chopped green onions additional green onions Combine brown sugar, bourbon, soy sauce, olive oil and chopped green onions. Pour over rinsed and patted dry salmon fillet. Marinate several hours. Remove salmon and reserve marinade. Grill salmon over hot c...